Rovers hope that Joe Rothwell will be in contention to feature when Stoke City arrive at Ewood Park on Wednesday night.

The extra day break, with Rovers not playing their midweek fixture until Wednesday, should give the 24-year-old more chance to be involved providing he can come through training in the lead-up to the game.

Rothwell has missed Rovers’ last five matches with a hamstring problem which forced him off at half time in the win over QPR on January 28.

Mowbray had expected the attacking midfielder to miss the whole of February with the injury in another blow to Rovers’ attacking options.

But having welcomed back Sam Gallagher and Joe Rankin-Costello to fitness following groin and hamstring problems respectively, Mowbray hopes for good news on Rothwell next week.

His return would boost Rovers’ options yet still, with Gallagher replacing Harry Chapman on the bench at Brentford while despite travelling, Rankin-Costello missed out on the 18.

“The plan is that he’s going to train on Monday and then we’ll see how he comes through that,” Mowbray said.

“Hopefully he might have an opportunity to be on the bench on Wednesday if he comes through the two days training.

“We’ll wait and see, but if he’s fit and flying then we might put him in the team.

“It’s good to have a few coming back, as was the case with Gallagher, and if we can get Rothwell back then that will be another positive for us.”

Rovers are continuing to monitor the calf injury which Derrick Williams is currently carrying, with an eye on the possible suspension for Darragh Lenihan who is one yellow card away from a two match ban.

The Irishman would need to get through three more games without a yellow card if he’s to avoid serving a suspension.